Hooked, and I Don't Mean the Fish

Me! It was an incredible experience to fish for stripers on a fly rod. Nothing can compare to the sensitivity imparted by a fly rod. It is a very intimate experience and, if I may quote Mary, an extension of your fingers! Just the act of fishing and feeling hits was thrilling let alone actually hooking and bringing in a very respectable fish for the first time on a fly rod. Mary was kind enough to let me use her fly rod after she needed a little break. I wonder why.






It was not even her personal best!


Both she and her fellow fly fisherman, Donna, exemplified the ideal of serenity, composure, sportsmanship and just overall class that defines a top fly fisherman. They allowed themselves to be defined by the bigger picture of where they were that day in that moment. It was not all about them, as it can be with so many other ego driven sportsman relentlessly and competitively chasing fish. It was about being on the Susquehanna Flats with their art feeling the fish through their finger tips. This is what life is all about!

It was truly an honor to participate. They shared their techniques with me and took time out to instruct me. There were no guarded"secrets" as other fisherman often pretend. They could show you everything and then you will have the next several years to make it your own.

On to the fishing. Captain Lisa was relentless in finding fish. We set out early with a north wind and a bad tide. Lisa knew we would really have to work for the fish. We caught a few, but most had the notoriously frustrating striper lock jaw as we were marking some enormous ones that wouldn't budge. Later, when the wind calmed a little and the tide shifted to incoming, we had a consistent bite for about five hours with almost all of the fish and all of the big ones taking flies!





What happened next? Donna hooked into her personal best, got a badge of honor all over her new jacket, and I got some great pictures!


Captain Lisa proves again she is a top notch guide as she brings in a foul hooked striper...



who is not cooperative!




and she's got him!




Video to follow later today.